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| Spiradiclis karstana L.Wu, X.Li & Q.R.Liu
in Wu, Li, Liu & Liu, 2019.
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Abstract
Spiradiclis karstana, a new species of Spiradiclis (Rubiaceae) collected from Yunnan, China, is described for the first time. It is morphologically close to S. jingxiensis, but differs from the latter mainly by its inflorescences with 5–9 flowers, its 1.5–2.4 mm long peduncles, its stipules shorter than 1 mm and the 5–12 pairs of secondary veins. The conservation status is assessed as “Vulnerable” (VU) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Keywords: Spiradiclis, Rubiaceae, taxonomy, karst, China
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Figure 1. Spiradiclis karstana sp. nov.
A habit B stipule C inflorescence, side view D long-styled flower E short-styled flower F calyx, frontal view, showing disc G remnant of dehiscent capsule, frontal view.
Drawn by Xin-Yi Zeng.
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Figure 2. Spiradiclis karstana sp. nov.
A habitat (The arrows show the places of growth) B habit C variation range of leaves D stipule E inflorescence, side view F long-styled flower, frontal view G disc and calyx H remnant of dehiscent capsule, frontal view I long-styled flower J short-styled flower.
Spiradiclis jingxiensis K habit L stipule M variation range of leaves.
Photos by Lei Wu, Ming-Feng Long and Xin-Xin Zhu. |
Spiradiclis karstana L.Wu, X.Li & Q.R.Liu, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Similar to S. jingxiensis, but differing from this species by the ovate-triangular stipules less than 1 mm long (vs. stipules linear, 1.5–3.0 mm long), the elliptic to oblong leaf blades (vs. ovate to broadly ovate), the 5–12 pairs of secondary veins (vs. 4–5 pairs) and the inflorescences with 5–9 flowers (vs. inflorescences with 1–2 flowers).
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Distribution and habitat: Spiradiclis karstana is known only from the crevices of forested cliffs at altitudes ranging from 800 to 1600 m in the karst area of SE Yunnan. This part of Yunnan is covered by evergreen rain forests that are highly similar to those in Indo-Malaysia (Zhu 2013) and are dominated by species from Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae, Dipterocarpaceae and Annonaceae.
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the habitat of the new species.
Lei Wu, Xiong Li, Wen-Jian Liu and Quan-Ru Liu. 2019. Spiradiclis karstana (Rubiaceae), A New Species from Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 117: 1-8. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.117.28281
